HK to Laos - Nanning or Kunming - Boten ??

Just finalising routes and things now. It seems like there are a few different routes fron Hong Kong to Boten (Laos border).

Route 1

Hong KongGuilinKailiAnshunKunming

This seems like a very long-winded route, is there a more direct route?

Route 2

Hong KongShenzhenNanning

Route 3

Hong KonGuangzhouNanning

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Routes 2 & 3 seem like the easiest and most direct routes but they both end up in Nanning, can we arrange onward transport from there (not flying) or are we best off ending up in Kunming for onwards travel to Boten.

Are there any routes you would specifically recommend as alternatives to this one? We hope to spend about 2 weeks in mainland China.

2.
Posted byLavafalls(Travel Guru 155 posts) 9y
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Take an over night sleeper to Yangshuo from Hong Kong, which is much nicer then Guilin. Then go on to Kunming, Kunming to Jinghong and then Jinghong to Mengla and on to Lao. That should take about 2-3 weeks if you go at a decent pace. Other option is take overnight sleeper to Yangshuo then go to Nanning and on to Vietnam.

3.
Posted byjadeverell(Respected Member 255 posts) 9y
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Hi DoA,

Last time i went travelling i did your Route 3 ( HK - Guangzhou - Nanning).

It was relatively simple, but be warned there is a massive difference between Hong Kong and China (Guangzhou) in terms of the level of english spoken and understood.

I got a train from Kowloon (Hong Kong) to Guangzhou, spent a few days there getting my barrings and taking in the sights of the city and booked a sleeper train (I cant remember how much it cost, but wasn't that much) to Nanning, where i crossed the border into northern Vietnam.

I think that there are 2 train station's in Guangzhou (Guangzhou Railway Station & Guangzhou EAST Railway Station) and when you get the train from HK to Guangzhou Railway Station you will need to get a Taxi to Guangzhou center (Get the local taxis that are a green colour and it should take about 20 mins to get there).

When leaving for nanning you need to get to the other train station. Make sure you purchase your ticket a day in advance as the station is very very busy and there are not many westerns there to seek advice from.

If you need any more info please let me know, also this site may help - http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/guangdong/guangzhou/getting-there.htm

Yes, the second and the third route are much easier than the first one. But it seems that the first one will be more interesting and will leave you everlasting memories. If I were you, I will choose the first one. Because Kaili is a booming site recently, the sightseeing there will be wonderfule.